Hashim Amla predicts four teams to reach the semi-finals of CWC 2023:

Hashim Amla’s cricketing legacy:

Amla’s cricketing legacy is nothing short of remarkable. With 8,113 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs), 9282 runs in Test matches, and more than 1,200 runs in T20 internationals, Amla’s contribution to South African cricket is etched in the annals of history. He also had the honor of captaining the Proteas side in Test cricket from June 2014 to January 2016. Although Amla retired from international cricket after the conclusion of South Africa’s 2019 ODI World Cup campaign, his love for the game and insights into it remain as strong as ever.

Hashim Amla names probable semi-finalists:

In a recent interaction with IOL News, Amla revealed his picks for the semi-finalists of the ODI World Cup 2023. The 41-year-old confidently named India, Pakistan, South Africa, and England as the probable semi-finalists, emphasizing the strength and potential of these cricketing powerhouses. The selections from the veteran batter reflected his extensive experience and knowledge of the game.

“I’ll go with India, Pakistan, South Africa, and England,” said Amla.

India:

India is the host country with a strong batting line-up led by captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Hardik Pandya. Their bowling attack is well-balanced with pacers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj and spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. India has won the World Cup twice before and will be eager to win it again on home soil.

Pakistan:

Pakistan is considered the dark horse of the ODI World Cup 2023. They have a talented batting line-up, including players like Babar Azam, Imam ul Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, and Iftikhar Ahmed. Their bowling attack features pacers like Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah and spinners like Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz. Pakistan won the World Cup in 1992 and will be hoping for a magical performance in India.

South Africa:

South Africa is renowned for their talent in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) but has yet to taste victory in the prestigious ODI World Cup. They have a solid batting line-up with players like Temba Bavuma, De Kock, and David Miller. Their bowling attack is lethal with pacers like Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi and spinners like Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj. Of the first eight teams to get ICC Full Membership status, South Africa remains the only one to have never reached a men’s World Cup final. 

England:

The defending champions, England, are also strong contenders. They have a powerful batting unit with players like Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and Jos Buttler. Their bowling attack is versatile, with pacers like Chris Woakes and Mark Wood and spinners like Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali. England won the World Cup in 2019 and will aim to retain their title.

A valuable piece of advice for South Africa:

Amla’s contribution didn’t end with his predictions as he also shared a nugget of wisdom for his home team, South Africa. Hashim Amla predicts four teams He urged the Proteas to focus on their game and ignore the distractions and external noise that often accompany such high-pressure tournaments.

“The loudest noise is the one in your head. So, you’ve got to keep track of what your thoughts are, keep pulling yourself to the moment of what needs to be done, and then succeed in that moment,” reckoned Amla.

Conclusion:

Cricket fans all over the world are brimming with optimism as they look forward to the tournament’s commencement. The ICC World Cup 2023 is slated to take place in India during October and November, featuring a total of 10 participating teams. The tournament is set to kick off on October 5, with the final match scheduled for November 19.  South Africa will begin their World Cup on Saturday, October 7, with a match against Sri Lanka at Delhi, while their league stage ends with a clash against Afghanistan on Friday, November 10, at Ahmedabad. They have warm-up games against Afghanistan on September 29 and New Zealand on October 2.